Azamara
Azamara is a small-ship cruise line based in Miami that builds its voyages around what it calls Destination Immersion: longer stays, frequent overnights and calls at smaller ports that big ships cannot reach. Royal Caribbean created the brand in 2007 with two R-class ships that had been meant for Celebrity Cruises, and sold it to the private equity firm Sycamore Partners in 2021.
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About Azamara
All four ships, Azamara Journey, Quest, Pursuit and Onward, were built at Chantiers de l'Atlantique between 1999 and 2001 for Renaissance Cruises, and each carries up to about 700 guests. Pursuit joined in 2018 after sailing for P&O Cruises as Adonia, and Onward, the former Pacific Princess, followed in 2022.
Itineraries are port-intensive and worldwide, from Mediterranean country-intensive voyages to Asia, Australia, South America and an annual world cruise, and many sailings combine into longer Grand Voyages. Fares include gratuities, select spirits, beer and wine, and a complimentary AzAmazing Evenings event on most voyages, a private shore event built around local culture.
What Azamara is known for
Azamara is known for destination-focused itineraries with long port days, overnight stays and calls at smaller harbors, for small ships with a relaxed atmosphere, and for fares that cover gratuities and standard drinks. Its AzAmazing Evenings shore events are a signature of the brand.
The trade-offs are mostly about the hardware. All four ships date from 1999 to 2001 and, though refitted, have fewer venues and less modern design than new premium and luxury ships, with about seven restaurants, cafes and lounges each. Fares are also higher than on mainstream lines. In 2012 an engine-room fire temporarily disabled Azamara Quest near the Philippines; no passengers were hurt.
Who it's for
Premium · smaller crowds, better food and service than mainstream
- Couples
- History and culture
- Solo travelers
Azamara suits couples and solo travelers who want to spend real time ashore, with late nights and overnights in port, on a ship small enough to feel personal. It works well for culture-focused travelers, repeat cruisers who want unusual ports and people planning long trips, since voyages can be combined into Grand Voyages or a world cruise.
Families with children, travelers who want new ships with many dining venues, and anyone looking for water parks or large-scale production shows will be better served by bigger lines. Travelers on a tight budget may also find the fares high, even allowing for what is included.
Cruising solo on Azamara
Azamara has no single cabins on its four ships of about 700 guests, but it regularly reduces the solo supplement on select sailings, sometimes to 100 or 125 percent of the per-person fare, and solo members of its Azamara Circle loyalty program earn the same double points as a couple. Long port stays, overnights and the AzAmazing Evenings shore events give solo travelers plenty of shared experiences, and the line has promoted gatherings for solo guests. Choosing a sailing with a reduced solo rate makes the biggest difference to the cost.
- Single supplement
- Solo guests book a standard double stateroom; the line's offer terms use 200 percent of the per-person fare as the full single-occupancy rate. On select sailings Azamara publishes reduced solo rates: its December 2025 list set supplements at 100 to 175 percent of the per-person fare, and its FAQ cites rates as low as 125 percent. World cruises carry 175 percent.
- Meeting other solo guests
- Azamara has promoted curated gatherings and activities for solo travelers, designed to help them make friends on board, in a 2023 release about its holiday sailings; it does not publish a regular schedule.
How it rates
- Cabins
- 3.8/5
- Dining
- 4/5
- Entertainment
- 3/5
- Service
- 4/5
- Pools & decks
- 3/5
- Value
- 4/5
The fleet's average on each metric, across 4 rated ships in service. Each ship is scored 1 to 5 by Cruise Frog's editors; these are not reader reviews.
Rankings and comparisons
Where Azamara sails
Ships
Best rated
#13.7 ★Azamara Journey2000 · 30,277 GT · 694 guests · Mediterranean · CaribbeanAzamara Journey is one of the eight R-class ships built at Chantiers de l'Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire for Renaissance Cruises; she entered service in 2000 as R Six. After the…
#23.7 ★Azamara Pursuit2001 · 30,277 GT · 777 guests · Asia · Australia and New ZealandAzamara Pursuit was completed in 2001 as R Eight for Renaissance Cruises and later sailed as Minerva II for Swan Hellenic, Royal Princess for Princess Cruises and Adonia for P&O…
#33.7 ★Azamara Quest2000 · 30,277 GT · 686 guests · World cruises · MediterraneanAzamara Quest was built in 2000 as R Seven for Renaissance Cruises, then laid up, chartered to Delphin Seereisen as Delphin Renaissance and sailed for Pullmantur as Blue Moon…Every ship, by class
R class
4 ships · 1999–2001 · 30,277 GT · avg 3.7 ★
Quick answers
What is Azamara known for?
Azamara is known for destination-focused itineraries with long port days, overnight stays and calls at smaller harbors, for small ships with a relaxed atmosphere, and for fares that cover gratuities and standard drinks. Its AzAmazing Evenings shore events are a signature of the brand.
Who is Azamara best for?
Azamara suits couples and solo travelers who want to spend real time ashore, with late nights and overnights in port, on a ship small enough to feel personal. It works well for culture-focused travelers, repeat cruisers who want unusual ports and people planning long trips, since voyages can be combined into Grand Voyages or a world cruise.
Is Azamara good for solo travellers?
Azamara has no single cabins on its four ships of about 700 guests, but it regularly reduces the solo supplement on select sailings, sometimes to 100 or 125 percent of the per-person fare, and solo members of its Azamara Circle loyalty program earn the same double points as a couple. Long port stays, overnights and the AzAmazing Evenings shore events give solo travelers plenty of shared experiences, and the line has promoted gatherings for solo guests. Choosing a sailing with a reduced solo rate makes the biggest difference to the cost.
Where does Azamara sail?
Azamara's ships in service sail Mediterranean (3 ships), Northern Europe (2 ships), Asia (2 ships), Caribbean (1 ship), Alaska (1 ship), Canada and New England (1 ship), South America (1 ship), Australia and New Zealand (1 ship) and World cruises (1 ship).
How is Azamara rated?
Azamara's fleet averages 3.7 out of 5 on Cruise Frog, across 4 rated ships. Its best-rated ship is Azamara Journey at 3.7.
How many ships does Azamara have?
Azamara has 4 ships in service on Cruise Frog: Azamara Journey, Azamara Onward, Azamara Pursuit and Azamara Quest.
What ship classes does Azamara sail?
Azamara sails 1 class of ship in service: R class (4 ships).
Who owns Azamara?
Azamara is part of Sycamore Partners.
Where is Azamara based?
Azamara is headquartered in Miami, Florida, United States. It has operated since 2007.
What is Azamara's loyalty program called?
Azamara's past-guest loyalty program is Azamara Circle.
What is the largest Azamara ship?
Azamara Journey is Azamara's largest ship at 30,277 gross tons, carrying 694 guests.
Cruising with children
An Azamara family trip is best planned around time in port. The crucial question is whether the destinations and daily schedule engage the child travelling with you.
Read the Azamara family guide →Is a drinks package worth it?
House wine is included in Azamara's fares, so you may not need a drinks package. If you'd want cocktails or premium wines, enter what they cost.
House wine is included in Azamara's fares, so you may not need a drinks package at all. Azamara ↗
Per person, a day, as the line quotes it.
A typical drink you'd buy on board.
Optional. Count coffees and sodas if the package covers them.
The days the package is charged for.
To make the drinks package pay for itself
6drinks a day
A $75-a-day package costs the same as 5.8 drinks at $13. Over 7 days that's $525, or 41 drinks for the cruise.
Pay as you go
At 5 drinks a day, buying drinks one at a time costs about $70 less than the package.
- Drinks package, 7 days
- $525
- Drink by drink, 5 drinks a day
- $455
Break-even is a target for your wallet, not a dare for your liver.
Traveller reviews
What people who've been say. One review each; you can update yours.
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